Results
ATHENS, GA – Hayden Clarke (Townsville, Australia) of the Manhattan College outdoor track & field team won the men's long jump at the Spec Towns Invitational from the University of Georgia's Spec Towns Track on Friday. With a wind-aided mark of 7.68 meters (25 feet, 2½ inches), a personal-best, he moved into fourth place on the qualifying list for the NCAA East Preliminary Round in the event.
Ellinor Persson (Taby, Sweden), meanwhile, placed third in the women's long jump with a leap of 6.00 m (19'8¼). She became just the fifth woman in program history to reach the six-meter barrier and moved up on the NCAA East Preliminary Round qualifying list, as well. Persson's effort, while slightly wind-aided, equaled the 25th-best mark in the region. She also ran the 100 meter hurdles on Friday, finishing 10th in 14.72 seconds.
In addition, Love Litzell (Ostersund, Sweden) secured third place in the men's hammer throw with a toss of 62.33 m (204'6). Both of the athletes who finished ahead of him, from Georgia and South Carolina, are ranked among the top 10 in the region.
Following the meet, the Jaspers got a chance to meet Adam Nelson, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the shot put. Nelson also won Olympic silver in 2000 and was the 2005 world champion.
Manhattan concludes competition at the Spec Towns Invitational on Saturday, with three athletes in action. Ryan Addlesberger (Cinnaminson, NJ) takes part in the men's shot put, while Fabian Mueller (Amtzell, Germany) is entered in the men's 100 meters and Lina Bengtson (Malmo, Sweden) will contest the women's discus.
The Jaspers will also send a contingent of sprinters and jumpers to the Sam Howell Invitational at Princeton University on Saturday.
